17. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Japan for the 12 months up to the most recent accounting period.
§ Mr. ErrollThis information is available from the Trade and Navigation Accounts.
Mr. Gresham CookeIs my right hon. Friend aware that this is the only way I could raise this Question on the Order Paper? Will he agree that these figures disclose an expanding trade between this country and Japan, and also an expanding market in Japan of which exporters could take good advantage at the present time?
§ Mr. ErrollI wholly subscribe to my hon. Friend's supplementary question, and I am glad that he found a way of getting it into HANSARD.
§ 32. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the current negotiations for an Anglo-Japanese trade treaty.
§ Mr. ErrollI would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Sir B. Janner) on 6th February.
§ Mr. RidsdaleAs there is great scope for long-term trade between Great Britain and Japan at the present time, would the President of the Board of Trade not agree that the conclusion of a long-term treaty is very urgent? Would not a mutual exchange of visits between our businessmen and Japanese businessmen help to iron out any of the difficulties that might arise through unfair competition and trading practices?
§ Mr. ErrollNegotiations for a commercial treaty are in hand at the present time. Sir Norman Kipping of the Federation of British Industries visited Japan in the autumn of last year. His report, I imagine, is now being studied by British businessmen, and, of course, those who wish to visit Japan are free to do so.
§ Mr. RhodesWill the right hon. Gentleman not make a trade treaty with Japan until the present export subsidies there are discontinued?
§ Mr. Ellis SmithAnd the workers are given better wages.
§ Mr. ErrollWe have repeatedly made clear to the Japanese our attitude towards export subsidies, and this will be one of the matters taken into account.
§ Mr. HirstIt is more necessary than just to make sure. We should be certain that no trade agreement is entered into as long as double-pricing practices are pursued.
§ Mr. ErrollIt would not be proper for me to give a categorical undertaking of the kind required by my hon. Friend, but I am aware of the feelings he has expressed and the other views that are held.